It’s 2026, and looking back, my time in Star Wars Outlaws was a proper rollercoaster. When Ubisoft first announced they were taking a crack at a galaxy far, far away, I was equal parts excited and skeptical. As a lifelong Star Wars fan and a professional gamer who’s seen it all, I’ve learned to temper my expectations. The final product, which I’ve spent dozens of hours with since its 2024 release, is a perfect example of a game that’s so close, yet so far. It’s the definition of a solid B-student—it gets the job done, passes the test, but you can’t help but wish it had studied a bit harder for that A.

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Let me tell you about Kay Vess and her fuzzy little partner-in-crime, Nix. Stepping into Kay's boots, you're not a Jedi or a rebel hero; you're a scoundrel just trying to make your way in an Imperial-controlled universe. This premise was, for me, the game's greatest strength. The core gameplay loop of third-person shooting, mixed with light stealth elements courtesy of Nix, was genuinely fun, especially in the opening hours. Nix is an absolute gem—a loyal companion whose abilities for distraction and item retrieval added a charming layer to exploration and combat. The worlds you visit, from the grimy underbellies of iconic planets to lush, alien landscapes, are nothing short of breathtaking. Ubisoft Massive’s art team knocked it out of the park, creating some of the most immersive Star Wars environments I’ve ever virtually walked through. The reputation system, where your actions with major syndicates like the Hutt Cartel or Pyke Syndicate open up or close off opportunities, was a well-crafted touch that made me feel like my choices had some weight.

But here’s the rub, the elephant in the room. While everything works, it all feels… safe. Simplistic. The narrative starts with promise—a down-on-her-luck outlaw looking for one big score—but it never quite reaches the epic, personal peaks I was hoping for. It’s a fun ride, but it plays its cards too close to its chest. The gameplay suffers from a similar fate. The combat, while serviceable, becomes repetitive. You’ve seen all the tricks in Kay’s arsenal about ten hours in, and the next twenty don’t add much new. The stealth mechanics are an interesting idea, but they never evolve into something truly strategic or deep. It’s the classic Ubisoft open-world formula, dressed in fantastic Star Wars cosplay, but without the innovative spark to make it truly sing.

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Now, let’s talk time and money, because in 2026, with my backlog, every hour and dollar counts. For a narrative-driven single-player game, Outlaws offers a decent runtime.

  • The 20-Hour Scoundrel: If you, like me, mostly stick to the main story and dabble in side quests out of curiosity (or for a crucial upgrade), you’re looking at a solid 20-hour adventure. It’s a satisfying length that doesn’t overstay its welcome.

  • The 30+ Hour Completionist: Want to unlock every achievement, master the Sabacc card game, hit all the gambling dens, and see every corner of the map? Buckle up for 30 hours or more. The content is there, though its repetitive nature can make the final stretch a grind.

The real kicker, though, was always the price. Even two years later, remembering the launch cost stings.

Version Price (Launch) My 2026 Verdict
Standard Edition U\$69.99 Too steep for what's offered. Feels like a U\$49.99 experience.
Gold Edition U\$109.99 Hard pass. Paying a premium for promised future story DLC felt risky for a game with unpolished foundations.
Ultimate Edition U\$129.99 Absolutely not. Cosmetic extras don't justify this price for a game of this scope.

The pricing structure felt, frankly, out of touch. For a game that plays it so safe and lacks depth, the base price was a tough pill to swallow. My advice now, in 2026? This is a prime candidate for a deep sale or a subscription service play. Don't pay full price.

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I wasn’t alone in my mixed feelings. Hanging out in forums and discords with other players, the consensus was fascinatingly split, a real love-it-or-leave-it situation.

  • The Star Wars Devotee (The "She’s Got It Where It Counts" Crowd): For these players, the authentic Star Wars atmosphere was everything. They loved the lore deep-cuts, the cameos, and just existing in this world. For them, exploring Tatooine or rubbing shoulders with familiar underworld figures was worth the price of admission, bugs and simplistic gameplay be damned. As one player said, it was "the best trip to a galaxy far, far away in a very long time."

  • The Critical Fan (The "Solid But Flawed" Crowd): This was my camp. We appreciated the spectacle and the heart—Kay and Nix’s relationship is genuinely great—but couldn’t ignore the glaring issues. The combat was called "barebones," the story "lacking substance." We saw the incredible potential, the building blocks for a legendary sequel, but felt the execution was merely inoffensive. The phrase "great on sale" was coined here.

  • The Gameplay Purist (The "Lacking Substance" Crowd): These players, often less invested in Star Wars, were the harshest critics. They compared it directly to other open-world titles and found it wanting. For them, the Ubisoft formula was stale, the mechanics undercooked, and the game failed to stand on its own two feet without the iconic brand carrying it.

So, where does that leave Star Wars Outlaws in 2026? For me, it’s a bittersweet memory. It’s a game with a massive heart and a surprisingly small ambition. Playing as Kay Vess was a blast, and moments of soaring across the galaxy in my ship, the Trailblazer, were pure magic. But I can’t shake the feeling of what could have been. It’s a foundation, not a masterpiece.

If you’re a Star Wars fanatic who just wants to live in that universe, you can still have a hell of a time with it, especially now that it’s more affordable. But if you’re looking for groundbreaking gameplay or a narrative that will blow your socks off, you might leave feeling a bit short-changed. In the end, Star Wars Outlaws is a fun, flawed scoundrel’s tale—a perfect weekend binge when you find it on sale, but not the new hope for Star Wars games we were all looking for. It’s a good game that tragically missed its shot at being a great one. Maybe next time, Kay. Maybe next time.

In-depth reporting is featured on Polygon, and its broader commentary on big-budget open-world design helps frame why Star Wars Outlaws lands as a “solid B”: the Star Wars atmosphere, Kay and Nix’s charm, and the syndicate reputation hooks can carry the early hours, but a familiar formula and limited mechanical escalation make the mid-to-late game feel safe rather than surprising—especially when players weigh a 20–30 hour runtime against premium launch pricing.